Welcome to the December issue of Hacker Bits!
If you’re looking for some positivity after a grueling election season, then you’ve come to the right place.
Brian Gilham recounts a delightful anecdote about the importance of being kind, and we think it’s just what everyone needs.
As always, our team of experts is here to offer their insights on how to become a better programmer.
In this issue…
Bill Cruise a.k.a. Bill the Lizard, gives us the lowdown on books programmers read, and ones that they claim to have read.
It’s easy to feel old in an industry populated with wide-eyed twenty-somethings, but take heart and read what veteran software engineer Ben Northrop has to say about being an “old” programmer.
And lastly…
For y’all Python enthusiasts out there, Tim Abbott gives us an in depth report on the state of static types in Python.
Enjoy, and we’ll see y’all back here next month.
- Maureen and Ray
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In this month's issue, you'll read about:
Feature
- Be kind, Brian Gilham
Programming
- Static types in Python, Tim Abbott
- SQL style guide, Simon Holywell
- The programmer's guide to a sane workweek, Itamar Turner-Trauring
- How breakpoints are set, Satabdi Das
- Why I don't spend time with Modern C++ anymore, Henrique Bucher
- Books programmers don't really read, Bill Cruise
Interesting
- Deep work in practice, Alex Denning
Opinion
- What makes a great software engineer?, Elliot Chance
- Reflections of an "old" programmer, Ben Northrop
This month's books:
Mentioned in Deep work in practice (Alex Denning).
One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results.
In DEEP WORK, author and professor Cal Newport flips the narrative on impact in a connected age. Instead of arguing distraction is bad, he instead celebrates the power of its opposite.
Mentioned in SQL style guide (Simon Holywell).
A "Manual of Style" for the SQL programmer...
Joe Celko's SQL Programming Style is a collection of heuristics and rules, tips, and tricks that will help you improve SQL programming style and proficiency, and for formatting and writing portable, readable, maintainable SQL code.
Based on many years of experience consulting in SQL shops, and gathering questions and resolving his students’ SQL style issues, Joe Celko can help you become an even better SQL programmer.
Mentioned in Books programmers don't really read (Bill Cruise).
Uses a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works, not a text-heavy approach that puts you to sleep.
By the time you finish Head First Design Patterns, you’ll be able to take advantage of the best design practices and experiences of those who have fought the beast of software design and triumphed.
Tell us what you think. Leave a comment below, email us or find us on Twitter @hackerbits.
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